Agreement

Everyone falls to the ground, dust and small pebbles dancing around us as the aftershock of the creature's exit resonates through the air.

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the ground cool and slightly damp beneath me. The monster is gone, but now, how do I get away from these guys? Pulling myself to a sitting position, I glance at Jenna and Draken, who are slowly recovering from the shock. "Why did you all come looking for me?"

Jenna, looking as exhausted as I feel, flops onto her back, staring up at the sky with a blank expression. "Actually," she begins slowly, her voice slightly hoarse, "we were heading this way as well. But Dolura kept begging us to find you since you are also heading in the same direction."

I turn to Dolura, who's standing a few feet away, her gaze darting between all of us but lingering on me. Why? Why is she so keen on staying next to me? I've tried to shake her off countless times, but she's like a shadow, always there. Now that Jenna's mentioned it, my suspicion deepens. Dolura must be from a high-class family, given the fact that they actually listened to her request.

While I'm lost in thought, Draken gets up and walks over to the wrecked helicopter, his face solemn. He stands still for a moment, then raises his hand in a salute. "Thank you for your service, soldier," he murmurs, his voice heavy with grief. "I hope you live a good life in your next life." After a moment of silence, he turns and heads back to us.

"It looks like we'll have to walk now... that huge monster was unexpected," he says, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

Jenna sits up, nodding in agreement. "Who knew? I've only seen creatures of that size in dense jungles. Never thought I'd see a monster like that in the city."

So, they weren't after me to make me work... that's good. But I still don't feel comfortable being around them, especially with Dolura always hovering close by. Before I can come up with a plan of escape, Jenna turns to face me, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

"Hey, um... can we travel together? I want to retrieve my artifact that's further up. Wouldn't it be better to travel as a group?"

"Artifact?" I frown, taken aback by the request. "You want to travel with me to retrieve a toy?"

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

-Jenna's POV

Toy? Toy? The word ricochets inside my head like a bullet, sending tremors of dread through my very core. My eyes dart to Dolura and Draken, catching the tiniest flicker of panic in their expressions. If they're scared, then I know I should be absolutely petrified.

Every heartbeat pounds in my ears like a war drum, each one echoing, toy, toy, toy. Is this a game to him? Or is he mocking me? Maybe it's a riddle, a test. He has unimaginable power. What if this is his subtle way of demonstrating that even the most prized possessions of mortals are mere playthings in his eyes?

Or perhaps... he really doesn't know? That can't be. How could someone of his stature not be aware of the might of artifacts? Does he see through the veils of time itself, unearthing secrets long buried? Does he gaze upon our desperate scrambles for power and laugh? My mind races, spiraling into darker and more frantic thoughts. C-Could he know about the lost history??? No one knows how or who made artifacts. No matter how much research is done they are a mystery. D-Does he know the truth about the deleted history? The mysteries that no scholar or historian has ever been able to uncover? M-Maybe he does, I should tell the General the next time we meet. 

There's a legend whispered among hunters. A tale about a man so mighty, he once held the entire world's collection of artifacts and deemed them inconsequential. He's said to have lived ages ago, or maybe he's just a myth. Could it be...? No, it's impossible. But the fear gnawing at me suggests otherwise.

My palms are clammy, my throat dry. With every passing second, the weight of his gaze feels like a mountain pressing on my chest. What if he's offended? Would he obliterate us with just a thought? Every fiber of my being screams that this is a critical juncture, one false move, and our fates could be sealed.

Gulping down the lump of anxiety in my throat, I force a shaky smile, trying to sound casual, "Well, um, you see... Since you're, ah, a... normal person, you might not have come across artifacts. They're these ancient relics, really, with unfathomable powers. Being a hunter, I, uh, left mine in a facility up ahead. It's just a little thing but means a lot to me."

Does he see through my feeble attempt at downplaying? My mind whirls in a frantic dance of paranoia and speculation. Every pause he takes feels like an eternity in a void of uncertainty. Is he calculating? Judging? Planning?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

It's... odd. Her reactions. I look at Jenna's hands, twitching and fidgeting as though they have a mind of their own. What the hell did I say that has her so... on edge? Artifacts? My mind immediately goes to those powerful, often legendary items in video games. Treasures that players kill pixelated dragons for or trade countless hours of play for. I always thought 'artifact' was just a placeholder term for something valuable or ancient, but based on Jenna's almost too intense response, there seems to be a lot more to it.

I try to read her eyes, always a good indicator of truth or deceit. There's an unspoken story there, a secret perhaps. But what? She seemed like she was on the verge of letting something slip. Makes me wonder if there's some hidden agenda or concealed information about these artifacts. An underground world of trade and power struggles? Possibly. But why hide it? The world is falling apart for crying out loud. 

No, wait. That might make sense. If these artifacts are as powerful as she implies, it could be dangerous information. And considering her overly dramatic reaction, Jenna must be deeply involved in this underground world. I doubt any huge organization or powerful families will die out due to the apocalypse so the underground world must still be up. 

"Since we're heading in the same direction, I guess we can travel together," I finally say, trying to sound as detached and nonchalant as possible. I'm not about to show her that her reaction piqued my interest. "But don't expect me to share my food and water."

For a second, a hint of a smile touches her lips, and she lets out a sigh, a mix of relief and gratitude. "Thank you," she manages, her voice still a bit shaky.

Why was she sweating so much? Did she have a fever or something? My gaze flits to Dolura and Draken for a moment, trying to gauge their reactions. Do they have a fever as well? Probably.

Ah, whatever. I couldn't care less. To me, they're just potential distractions. If some powerful monster attacks, well, that's more heads to put between me and danger. After all, it's always good to have a human shield or two.

"We should start walking since we'll need to collect something to eat along the way," Draken announces, breaking the thick tension enveloping the group.

Everyone grunts in agreement, the weariness evident in their movements. The ache in my bones is palpable as I push myself to my feet. I've been running around, escaping from creatures, and dealing with unexpected threats; no wonder my body is rebelling against the very idea of movement. I don't know why these morons are tired since they were in a damn helicopter. 

I suddenly feel an uncomfortable tug on my arm, bringing my attention to the source of the unease. Dolura. She's clung to me like a lifeline, her grip so tight it's almost painful. Her eyes are wide and filled with unsaid emotions. Honestly, can't she tell the monster is gone? Sighing deeply, I resist the urge to shake her off roughly.

"Dolura, the monster is gone. Can you let go of my arm already?" I ask, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

Without uttering a single word, she releases her hold. Her gaze remains downcast, avoiding direct eye contact. Damn, I really can't lose my temper with her, can I? If, by some miracle, one of her family members is alive and they find out I've been harsh with her, they could get the General to use his power against me.

"Thanks to that monster, I doubt any other creatures will be around here for a while," Jenna comments, breaking the silence. There's a hint of relief in her voice, but it's overshadowed by the weight of reality.

Draken nods in agreement, "It's a small blessing, but I'll take it. Let's keep our eyes peeled for any supplies or food. We don't know when we'll get another chance."

-

We finally arrive at a massive chasm where the bridge used to be. Half of it has crumbled, with huge chunks of cement and steel rods hanging precariously. A dense fog rises from below, obscuring any semblance of depth. I can't even see the bottom. One misstep and it's game over. The other half of the bridge appears mostly intact but is suspended at an angle, ending in a sheer drop.

Jenna and Draken immediately begin a heated discussion, their voices echoing in the haunting silence.

"We could use some of those ropes and steel rods to create a makeshift bridge," Jenna suggests, her fingers pointing out a few hanging steel wires.

"It's too risky. Even if we manage to secure a path, there's no guarantee it'll hold our weight," Draken counters, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"We can't go back," Jenna says with determination. "We've already lost so much time. This is the most direct route."

"I'm not suggesting we turn back. Maybe there's another way around. Or perhaps we can find a building nearby tall enough to use as a vantage point," Draken replies.

They go on and on, each point met with a counterpoint, each idea shot down by the other. I can't believe they're wasting time on such pointless banter. Isn't it obvious?

Internally sighing, I roll my eyes and mutter to myself, "Retards."

I glance around, my gaze settling on a building nearby with its top floor partially collapsed. The debris from this structure forms a makeshift ramp that connects to the suspended half of the bridge. Sure, it's not a direct path, but it's safer than swinging over an abyss. Besides, if we can get to the angled part of the bridge, it wouldn't be difficult to use ropes and whatever materials we find on the other side to secure a more stable way down.

Walking over to the building, I inspect the ramp's stability. A few well-placed supports from the debris around should make it strong enough for our passage.

The collapsed building to our right seems to have large pipes running down its side, likely remnants of its plumbing system. With the right maneuver, I reckon I could shimmy up one of those and gain access to a higher vantage point. There might be a way to cross from there. The distance between the two broken parts of the bridge isn't that vast, just hazardous. I roll my eyes, thinking how ironic it is that in a world filled with monstrous threats, a mere structural gap is our current roadblock.

Without uttering a word, I make my way towards the building, finding a stable pipe. Testing it for durability, I start to climb. The effort is strenuous, but the adrenaline and urgency fuel my ascent. Within minutes, I'm on a ledge, overlooking the duo who are still engrossed in their heated discussion, blissfully unaware of my vertical progress.

From this height, the solution is evident. There's an old crane further down the building that seems to have a long enough boom arm to bridge the gap. If I can maneuver it just right, we'll have a makeshift path across.

Heading towards the crane, I find it surprisingly operational. It takes a bit of fiddling and a few heart-stopping moments of the machine groaning and sputtering, but eventually, the arm starts to extend, moving towards the broken bridge.

I can hear Jenna and Draken's startled voices from above, "What the...? Where did he...?"

With a satisfying clang, the boom arm locks in place, creating a narrow yet functional pathway. I walk over it, testing its stability. Satisfied, I make my way back to the duo, who are now looking at me with a mix of admiration and embarrassment.

"So, you guys done talking? Or do you want to move forward now?" Buch of idiots; why does everyone tend to overthink?